Direct2Drive 1.09 patch? Hello?

[TheJediMaster]

The 1.09 patch has been out now for a while. I understand that we aren't supposed to use the regular version of 1.09 (tho I don't get why). Does anyone have any infomation when a special patch will be made available for D2D people? Gamespy/IGN, the owners of D2D, and Faraxis haven't said anything.

 

[jerry247]

ns, i read somewhere it takes 'em up to 3 months to release it!! we should be able to use regular patches, if i'd have known i may not have dl'ed

 

[NirvyCN]

Aye i once made the mistake of buying a game from them 3 month ago, this game has had 3 patches, but D2D.com has not released any yet.

http://direct2drive.com/patches/index.aspx

That shows you how little chance of a patch their is, of their 300+ games they have only ever patched 9 of them, and they are all really big hit FPS games like Brothers in Arms and BF2 etc. Out of those 9 games patched 4 of them were to fix problems with the gamedownloads not having all audio files,like the Civ4 one.

I doubt they will patch Civ4. If you read their Terms and Conditions stating D2D games are not obliged to be updated with patches.

Sadly i think the chance of them patching Civ4 is about Zero

 

[Kolyana]

Oh man ... I had no idea that there was a difference in the files in this way ... I'd *NEVER* use D2D because of something like this ... how ... YUCKY.

 

[Padma]

Remember, to make the game downloadable, they have legal permission to *break* the copy-protection scheme. But official patches have the copy-protection built in, so they *break* the no-CD scheme. Thus D2D (or whoever) needs to *break* it again (and again, and again).

 

[analyst]

Hah, considering highschool crackers can break the copy-protection within hours of release, you'd think that hired programmers could afford the time to crack the newest patch every few months or so.

 

[Padma]

Can they? Yes.

Will they? Well, apparantly it's not profitable enough ....

 

[Vili]

I requested a refund because I can't play multiplayer on their version of the game without patch 1.09. They refused. They expect me to keep their product in an unplayable state (can't play multiplayer). They lost my business forever.

 

[MadMaligor]

Just an idea...

If you used a credit card, and your in good standing with your card company, you can call and have them reverse the charge stating they sold you a defective product and refuse to refund you or fix the problem. The card company may ask you for some proof so be ready. Have any correspondence email from D2D handy. Copy paste relavent threads here on these boards you think would support your case. Be very polite and tell your card provider that your willing to do anything to work with them but they have now refused to help you further.

I have had to do this twice before with other vendors. Both times my credit card company was extremely helpful, though they did try to contact one of the vendors but got the brush off as well. Which is why I recommend you keep some proof of their refusal in case D2D tries to doubletalk your CC company, that way you can send them the info. Remember, be very willing to accomodate your credit card and be nice to the guy or gal helping you. 9 times out of 10 your credic card will kick them to the curb.

 

[Psyringe]

I doubt they will patch Civ4. If you read their Terms and Conditions stating D2D games are not obliged to be updated with patches.

Ouch.

Such terms of business, no matter how justified they are, are certain to keep me from buying anything there.

We went through similar patch issues with the German version of Civ3. Patches came weeks or even months late, multiplayer was incompatible was other versions ... it wasn't nice. If they truly don't patch Civ4, I feel sorry for anyone who bought hi game there. I'll reserve final judgement until they make clear what they will or won't do for Civ4 though.

 

[Efexeye]

I bought Civ3 from Direct2Drive, and I could have sworn that I patched it normally...

 

[Bhruic]

Remember, to make the game downloadable, they have legal permission to *break* the copy-protection scheme. But official patches have the copy-protection built in, so they *break* the no-CD scheme. Thus D2D (or whoever) needs to *break* it again (and again, and again).

They don't need to 'break' it. Like normal publishers, they'll get a version that's "copy protection free". They then add their version of copy protection to it. Of course, since they don't have deliver a CD/DVD, they can't tie copy protection to having one in the drive. Which means if you grab the 'normal' patch, the copy protection will interfere with their version of the game (because of the conflicting copy protection systems), so it won't install.

The upshot is to try and bug them until they do, but that has a low probability of working.

Bh

 

[DemonDeLuxe]

We went through similar patch issues with the German version of Civ3. Patches came weeks or even months late, multiplayer was incompatible was other versions ... it wasn't nice.

Haven't you, as a CIV veteran, learned the golden rule of CIV?

"Never ever install a language other than english"

With games, I always try to get the american version anyway. Saves you a lot of trouble and makes it much easier to talk about games on english forums.

 

[jerry247]

sounds like a real hassle! better get to work!

 

[Adam7Eight]

This is just another reason why I prefer buying my games off the store shelf.

 

[jerry247]

all the stores were closed , it took 3 days to download anyway. to many broken connections!

 

[Psyringe]

Haven't you, as a CIV veteran, learned the golden rule of CIV?

"Never ever install a language other than english"

That's why I said that "We in Germany" had these issues - I, personally, didn't suffer from them because I was playing the English version.

I'm always disappointed when I can't play a game in its "original" language. Apart from the technical problems that translated versions may have, the translations themselves are often just horrible.

I also think that computer games actually improved my English. Infocom's adventures come to my mind. They certainly broadened my vocabulary. Hmm, seeing that my English is still far from perfect ... I should probably play more games.

 

[DemonDeLuxe]

Ah, Zork...!

However, I find myself knowing allpossible ways of describing horrendous creatures, exotic weapons and middle ages units in the most colorful expressions while at the same time there seems to be a profound lack of, say, modern day business vocabulary. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm... *g*

 

[Padma]

horrendous creatures, exotic weapons, colorful expressions - sounds like modern-day business to me!

 

[Psycho Mantis]

Oh no. I bought via D2D. So there is no way for me to get the patch unless D2D releases it?